Global Scans · Economy · Weekly Summary

DRIVER: The global economy still faces serious headwinds and political uncertainty potentially balanced by the enormous promise of technological advancements in many fields. Read on to get a solid handle on the opportunities and risks you and your organization may likely face and set your sails accordingly.

• [New] Despite stronger-than-expected growth in the first quarter, China's growth moderated slightly in the second quarter, while domestic consumption and income growth have remained muted. Moody's Events
• [New] Inflation remains moderate, with both headline and core inflation projected at 1.0-2.0% for 2026 according to the Monetary Authority of Singapore's macroeconomic review, a modest uptick from prior expectations. Joey Choy Top Stocks
• [New] Based on growth assumptions, U.S. electricity consumption would approach 5,000 TWh in 2030. Breckinridge Capital Advisors
• [New] U.S. electricity consumption is forecasted to grow up to 25% by 2030, with over half of growth from data centers. Breckinridge Capital Advisors
• [New] If the 2021-2022 cycle was driven by retail speculation, high leverage, and narrative bubbles, then institutions generally believe that 2026 will be a year of substantial growth built by regulatory clarity, macro hedging needs, and the implementation of technological effectiveness. MEXC
• [New] In the future, the National Guard will have abilities that leverage AI to forecast potential secondary disasters, such as landslides or flooding, and proactively deploy resources to mitigate their impact. National Guard Association of the United States
• [New] Central Asia is an important region with huge potential to boost economic growth. "Inform"
• [New] 2029-2030: Mature production phase; stock value will likely track global lithium demand-supply balances. Bitget
• [New] China will pour a lot of resources into AI improvements as well as developing their own chips by reverse engineering the Nvidia chips as best they can. Longitudinal Expert AI Panel
• [New] Experts project Taiwan's global share of leading-edge chip production to fall from over 90% today to roughly 71% by 2030 and 46% by 2040, with the U.S. and China each capturing around 20% in 2040. Longitudinal Expert AI Panel
• [New] The use of digital health tools, including AI, will strengthen the Canadian economy and keep us competitive into the future. SenCanada
• [New] The mechanism through 2035 will be increasingly driven by regulatory pressure for emission control and waste minimization, coupled with the economic incentive to recover and reuse raw materials and water. IndexBox Inc.
• [New] Looking to 2035, key indicators will be production volumes of premium products (plant-based proteins, functional beverages), stringent food safety standards, and sustainability targets for water and waste. IndexBox Inc.
• [New] By 2030, industry experts expect lithium batteries to surpass 1 terawatt-hour of annual production capacity. paiseec-us-store
• [New] Without coordinated international action, plastic production could increase by 70% between 2020 and 2040, surpassing 700 million tonnes annually. ScienceDaily
• [New] By fostering public-private partnerships to build localized, open-source AI models and rapidly upskilling the tech workforce, Kenya can transform the threat of automation into an engine for unprecedented economic growth. Streamline
• [New] The World Economic Forum's 2026 Global Risks Report estimates that 86% of companies worldwide expect AI to transform their business models by 2030, and that 92 million workers could be displaced by then. Business Insider
• [New] As India advances initiatives such as Digital India, smart cities and AI-driven governance, domestic hardware manufacturing will become a cornerstone of national technological independence and long-term economic resilience. Organiser
• [New] With global smartphone demand expected to remain strong, India's ability to manufacture both devices and components will strengthen its position as a global production hub. Organiser
• [New] For Quebec, the key challenge will be to capitalize on its strengths - water, energy and a relatively temperate climate - while reducing its vulnerabilities through proactive adaptation of infrastructure, land-use planning and its economic model. Westmount Magazine
• Krungsri Research projects that EMs will outperform DMs in 2026, driven by three structural factors, led by a softer dollar which historically supports capital inflows into emerging economies and strengthens local currencies. https://www.bangkokpost.com

Last updated: 03 March 2026